I’m turning 59 this month! It’s an age when many people begin to focus on retirement on the horizon, not me. On that note, I’d like to mention that 59½ is a significant milestone, especially for those with 401(k) accounts. At this age, the rules around withdrawals start to shift, giving people more options and flexibility. If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the 59½ rule and explore what it means for your clients and their retirement planning.
As I hit 59, I am not thinking at all about my retirement. I am having to much fun doing what I love. I reflect on something I heard on a podcast that really resonated with me. The host mentioned that he was going to stop referring to the number as an age, but rather as reaching the next level, such as in video games.
So here I am, hitting level 59 in the game of life. Life really is like a video game: you start with some energy, and as you go along, you find things that either boost your energy or drain it. You face challenges along the way, and when you overcome them, you get to advance to the next level. Sometimes those challenges are hard, sometimes they are easy, and all the activity is leading up to the big “boss” character that you have to beat to get to the next level.
I remember the hours my daughter Sophie and I spent bonding over trying to beat the big boss Bowser in Super Mario brothers. We took our lumps but kept coming back for more. A metaphor for a successful life.
As I hit level 59 at the end of this month, I look forward to the challenges I may encounter on my way to level 60 and beyond. It’s my intention to keep playing this game of life until I reach level 150, but that is a story for another day.
Wealth Solutions Network 2.0
Similarly, as I reach level 59, Wealth Solutions Network (WSN) reaches level 2. I consider October 1 of 2023 as the official launch date for the Wealth Solutions Network.
We certainly encountered our share of challenges in reaching level 2 for WSN and as I write this, I am fighting my big “Boss” for the completion of level 1. I have been focusing on taking all the lessons that we learned in this first year of implementation and growth to make level 2 (which I have been referring to as WSN 2.0) better by making strategic changes.
We are developing many enhancements for WSN 2.0 that we will be unveiling throughout the remainder of the year that will make it easier to attract and help more people prepare for the financial challenges they face.
Among the enhancements WSN members can look forward to are:
Marketing materials to build consumer awareness and the problems members of WSN can solve for them.
A turn-key point of sale process to guide the conversation with the consumer and uncover opportunities to better serve them.
A nationwide lead generation system for estate planning clients that are looking for the attorney to take responsibility for the implementation of the plan, not simply preparing boilerplate documents.
A streamlining of the intake process further reducing the amount of work that the WSN attorney must do and enhancing access to the expertise of the entire team to assure that the client experiences the desired outcome.
Improvement in the onboarding and training process to reduce the time to success.
And much more to come.
WSN 2.0 is a major step toward empowering more attorneys to serve as financial advocates and recruiting more attorneys to join our crusade to change the role of the estate planning attorney and to take back the estate planning function from the salespeople of the insurance and investment world.
As I see what the next six levels look like for me, and for WSN, we have added to our team this year to be able to exponentially increase our reach while preserving the ability to maintain the amount of energy that is needed to succeed at the next level, beat the “boss” that will manifest and move on to the level after that.
Part of the additions to the team are two new strategic partners that forming appear in this newsletter.
First is the introduction of Ari Galper as a coach and voice in the sales process. Ari is the leading expert in the discipline of trust-based sales which is an antidote for the high-pressure sales approach that is so prevalent in the financial services industry. Ari’s approach is emblematic of the way attorneys and financial advocates should interact with their clients.
The second example is the relationship with Josh Kelly highlighted in this issue. The strategic relationship with Josh and his team empowers members of WSN to help their business clients save on their payroll taxes while providing greater benefits to their employees.
I am excited about some other major strategic partnerships that we are developing behind the scenes and look forward to sharing them with you when appropriate.
Looking Towards the Future
I have 5 more levels to go before I take on my big “boss” of the March to a Million, helping that millionth family by September 30, 2030. I am more convinced than ever that the consumer needs the guidance we provide at WSN and that the team we are developing will hit that target and will be poised to help millions more in the years that follow.
It won’t be easy, but looking back at my years of playing Super Mario with Sophie, I learned that once you figure out how to beat the big “boss” of the level, it is much easier if you have to take it out again.
So, in terms of levels, we are flipping the script based on my age. I have no shame in my age — only pride in the wisdom, experience, and memories I’ve gained along the way. There is no more counting down; I’m only moving up, amplifying my energy, and moving closer to my goals.
Time to take on the next level.
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